Meet the five slimmers who are on the road to weight loss

A healthy diet shouldn’t be so hard, but according to the Welsh Health Survey 57% of Welsh adults are overweight or obese.

A healthy diet shouldn’t be so hard, but according to the Welsh Health Survey 57% of Welsh adults are overweight or obese. Kirstie McCrum found five of them who are ready to shape up and feel great in their own weight loss challenge

STEPPING into the new year is always a little bit tougher – and heavier – after a festive season of abundance. Many of us will be setting our sights on shedding some of that extra weight and there’s no question that slimming clubs across South Wales will be swollen this month with new members trying different methods to get a happy, healthy weight loss.

These days it seems like our entire environment is built around unhealthy meal choices and junk food, but recent scientific research shows that today’s overloaded food environment is one of the most important reasons why we tend to over eat – meaning it’s not just about will power.

Cardiff WeightWatchers leader Sharon Kelleher says it’s all about watching your guilty pleasures while still building a healthier lifestyle. When it comes to snacking, whether you’re on the WeightWatchers plan or not, you should be aware of what you’re absentmindedly munching on.

“If chocolate spells heaven for you, plan for it. Create room in your ProPoints budget so you can enjoy a treat without worry. And also, make sure you have other, more weight loss-friendly treats at hand – such as gorgeous, fresh clementines.”

“Remember, you can’t control what you feel, but you can control your surroundings. So start sorting your surroundings and learn how you can tackle your overloaded food environments now.”

Here are some more tips to avoid your danger zones:

AT HOME

Planning ahead: Wrap treats individually in foil or portion big bags of crisps into airtight containers – open packets make it too easy to give in

In the moment: Chew gum when you’re preparing your meals to stop you nibbling

TRAVEL

Planning ahead: If you’re flying, take a book or a magazine to the airport, much safer than dawdling in a bar or cafe

In the moment: Fast food the only option? WeightWatchers members can review choices on their ProPoints tracker, but in general, your first choices are yoghurt, fruit or pre-packaged chicken salads or, if that’s not available, opt for a kid’s meal or a simple bean burger

SHOPPING

Planning ahead: Plan out breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the week and write it all down – if you have the WeightWatchers app, you add foods/recipes to the stored shopping list

In the moment: If you spot a new product you fancy, add it to next week’s grocery list, not your trolley, so you can account for it as you plan meals for next week

NINE TO FIVE... AND LATER

Planning ahead: Take cut up fruit along to work meetings to prevent you giving in to pastries and biscuits

In the moment: If you’re invited out to happy hour, opt for a spirit and slimline mixer

EATING OUT

Planning ahead: Do your research beforehand by looking at the restaurant’s website, or even stop by the restaurant – then you can explore nutrition information and make your own decisions without the pressure of the waiter asking for your order

In the moment: Feel like dessert but had a big meal? Enjoy an espresso or other coffee beverage with skimmed milk while others have dessert

OCCASIONS

Planning ahead: Spend an extra 20 minutes on the treadmill to allow for a few extra treats in the evening

In the moment: Worried about going back for seconds? Take your finished plate to the kitchen and if the buffet table is still calling, excuse yourself to go for a walk, make the coffee or play with the kids.

For more information about WeightWatchers or to find your nearest meeting, visit www.weightwatchers.co.uk or call 08457 123 000.

The slimmers who are setting out on a three-month trial with WeightWatchers: next page

SOPHIE FULLER, 23, is a course co-ordinator at Cardiff University and lives in Grangetown, Cardiff. She’s 5ft 5in and is currently wearing a size 14, weighing 11st 9lb. She’s aiming to drop two dress sizes, but says she’ll be happy if she manages to go down to a size 12.

“Last year I lost 3½ stone, going from an 18-20 to a 12 by reducing my portion sizes and being more aware about what I was eating, but since then I’m starting to find it difficult to maintain the weight loss and it’s beginning to creep back on.

“I put weight on because when I was at home with my two-year-old daughter, I was eating constantly. When my partner came home I’d eat the same food he did.

“I’ve known people who have done WeightWatchers, but I’ve never done it myself. I really like the idea of the support network and it’s not a faddy diet, it’s something realistic that you could stick to for life. I really can’t wait to see how I get on with it.”

MIKE CASSAR, 44, is currently unemployed and lives in Roath, Cardiff. He’s 5ft 9in and currently weighs 15st 13lb. He hopes to hit his target weight of 11st and gain a better understanding of healthy eating.

“I’ve tried Slimming World before with limited success. I’ve managed to lose a couple of stone, but then it piles back on. I’ve done the same with WeightWatchers. I think it’s more to do with my relationship with food rather than anything else. It’s comfort eating, especially in the winter.

“It’s been a tough year, which saw me go through a divorce, so I’ve lost my house, my children and my job. I’ve got a new job lined up for the end of this month, so slowly but surely I am rebuilding and I think my weight would be the finishing touch.

“I cook, but I wouldn’t say that I’m a Gordon Ramsay. I’m Greek by birth, so I tend to eat a lot of exotic foods. Pasta is always a winner for me but I dislike veg, so I find difficulty when it comes to padding out a meal with the green stuff.”

ADAM ‘AJ’ TAYLOR, 28, is a stationery salesman from Barry. He’s 5ft 7in and weighs 15st 1.5lb. He says he’s keen to “lose my gut more than anything and feel better within myself”.

“My wife Lou has done WeightWatchers for quite a while now and has done really well. Diets are something I try and do at least once a year. People tend to go through phases where they eat and eat and their weight creeps up. If it’s only by a couple of pounds you don’t worry, but once you realise you’ve put on a stone you think, ‘it’s time to do something’.

“I work for a company out in the sticks and if you don’t take your own lunch in, the only thing you can get delivered is takeaways, so it’s all about planning. Every day, I take noodles in, but it’s not easy when you’re in a room of people eating chips. In the cupboard I have about 17 pots of the noodles because I’ve opted for the chips.

“I tend to skip breakfast, which I know is a big no-no. If I have breakfast, the only thing I want at that time of the morning is fatty stuff.”

Dinner: If Lou cooks, curries or spaghetti bolognese with Quorn, otherwise I eat the same as the kids

STACEY BREWSTER, 25, works as a sponsorship fundraiser at the Wales Millennium Centre and lives in Riverside, Cardiff. She’s 5ft 8in and currently weighs 15st 10lb, wearing a size 16. She’s keen to have a much healthier lifestyle and to eventually drop down to 12st 2lb.

“I’ve put more than 4st on in the past two years – enough is enough.

“My weight gradually crept up through university, but it’s in the last two or three years it’s really gone up. I used to go to the gym five days a week and I was really good.

“I hate the word diet, I just try to eat healthier, but I’ve just fallen out of it. I need a structure in place. I try to lose a couple of pounds here and there, but then I put more back on. I’ve never been this heavy in my life. I need support and advice. I hate cooking and it’s difficult trying to find meals that are cost-effective for one person.

“I go through phases. I can give chocolate up for six months easily or I eat everything in sight. I’m all or nothing.”

SCOTT WATKINS, 29, is a supervisor at Starbucks as well as being a University of Glamorgan computer science student and lives in Cardiff Bay. He’s 6ft tall and weighs 19st 13lb. He says that he’s keen to live a healthier lifestyle and achieve his fitness and weight-loss goals.

“I moved to the UK from Detroit in 2009. I’ve always been overweight – I tried WeightWatchers in the States and lost weight, but gained it all back.

“In the States I was living the drive-thru lifestyle eating convenience food. When I moved here, I became a vegetarian to try and change my diet. It’s helped me, I’ve lost about 4st since I moved. I lost a bit last year with Slimming World.

“I don’t really have an excuse – in my building we have two gyms and a swimming pool. I use them occasionally, but I don’t have the get up and go to do it on top of university and going to work. I just need a routine to get into, when I first moved in I was going every morning but after a while I went back to sitting on the couch.

“I love to cook and I cook a lot. I try to vary my diet, but I’m not picky. I like to try new things and I make a lot of recipes up myself.

“This is something a little bit different and I’m really excited that it’s going to work this time.”

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